What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
- Queen Song by Victoria Aveyard
What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- Gods of Egypt
What special days did I celebrate and how?
- Our eldest's birthday!
What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- Allergies are bad this month :(
What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Reunion with Relatives
- Birthday celebration of our eldest
- Went to Tokyo with the whole family
What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- We ate a lot of Jap food in Tokyo (*wink*)
What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- I bought a couple of stuff from Uniqlo, Tokyo
What have you learned this month?
- Whenever you pray for something, be it travel for the whole family, God will make a way to make it happen. Our Tokyo trip happened after 5 years of dreaming and planning for it. ♥ Thank you, Lord!
- Negative people are the ones who will find fault/problem in a solution. Avoid those kind of people.
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Well, this is technically the kids' first week of vacation. And so far they are having fun! They finished school last week and they are off to another adventure, that is the 2016 summer vacation! I haven't really planned on this vacation in particular because I wanted them to rest, relax and explore the day on their own.
But, I made sure that they incorporate music in their daily routine. Our eldest will be playing the piano, while the youngest will be singing as part of the chorale. Yes that's the plan. So I might be needing a couple of ADK Microphones this summer so I have to find some online. They will be using it during their "recitals" which will happen just before the new school year starts. YES, that's the plan that I want to do. (*grin*)
1. Planning for summer getaways!
2. Japan Trip with the whole family ♥♥♥
3. College Friends
4. Never Ending Blessings
5. EASTER and RESURRECTION ♥
6. Photos and lots of it from our Japan Trip!
7. Freshly Brewed Coffee
8. Back to work :)
9. New Household, New Friends!
10.
To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.
1. Happy Weekend! ♥
2. Great Weather
3. Gift of Adventures with Family!
4. Japanese Fooood
5. Exploring a new city
6. Coffee
7. Sweets & Treats
8. God's love and blessings
9. New eBooks
10. Blogging
To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.
I've been dealing with decluttering for the past few months now and this article is just useful! You might want to check it out too...
By Mariel Uyquiengco
Clutter can easily overcome the best homemaker in us and overtake our living spaces. Books and toys, while lovely in bookshops and toy stores can be a source of distraction for everyone in the family. It is definitely ironic that a source of our children’s happiness can also be the biggest cause of frustration for their parents.
Too much toys, regardless of what marketers tell us, can actually be unhealthy and detrimental to a child’s development. In the book Simplicity Parenting, author Kim John Payne, says that just keeping a few toys for kids can actually foster cooperation among siblings and add more depth to their playing. Having less toys means more time to reach out to other people and to imagine and to create.
How, then, can we manage the constant influx of books, toys, and what-nots in our home? Here are 5 rules to live by in managing your child’s books and toys – also called “the mess.”
1. Kids don’t need a lot of toys
Be assured that your little girl does not need to have all the Barbie variations out there or that the complete Thomas the Tank Engine set will make your son happy forever. When kids just have a few toys that they can actually see, they are more engaged and more “into it” as they play.
Too many toys can actually make kids anxious, says Payne.A cluttered environment is truly not conducive for thinking things through. The usual result would be children quickly going through one toy after another, never settling into one for a long period of time.
2. Everything does not need to be displayed
We want our children to be able to access everything that they need, so we proudly display all those books and toys. But, as mentioned above, too much toys in an area can actually just distract your child.
Keep in mind that if you think there are toys that your child will benefit from for a long time, you can always rotate them. Keep the displayed toys at a minimum and box the rest away. You can rotate toys every quarter to freshen your child’s play selection.
3. Kids should know where things belong
Kids should know where each of their toys belongs in order to be able to clean up after playing. Label boxes and shelves with words or pictures, and teach your child how to return things in their proper places.
Leaving things unlabeled is an invitation to create a mess. Kids will just tend to put things in any space that they can find, or worse, will just leave the toys where they are.
4. Constant purging is a must
Most of us cannot control what grandparents, aunts, and uncles will give our children. Children look forward to birthdays and Christmases, but parents actually dread all those beautifully wrapped things.
We need to be constantly purging closets and shelves and really stick to a schedule for deep cleaning. Spring-cleaning is not just for spring! So, let go of those toys that you like but your kids haven’t touched for months, even if those have been prominently displayed since forever.
5. Giving away stuff is like hitting two birds with one stone
When purging books and toys, it is a good option to give away stuff and at the same time involve your kids. Choose an orphanage, a library, or a family with small kids to donate to and set an appointment with them. Involving your kids will set a good example to them about letting go and giving to those in need.
Working towards having a clean and clear play space for our children will benefit the whole family. Just keep in mind the simple rules above to be able to successfully manage your ever-growing plethora of kids’ stuff.
For the entire article, click here.
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